NCDMB, NLNG Invest $9m in Research Chairs Across Six Nigerian Universities

By Pan Afric Reporters

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) have committed $9 million to endow professorial research chairs across six Nigerian universities, in a strategic move to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application while advancing local technological innovation.

The development was contained in a joint press release signed by Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, NLNG, and Obinna Ezeobi, PhD, General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, NCDMB, announcing the launch of the Nigerian Content Research and Development (NC-R&D) Professorial Chair Endowment Programme.

Under the initiative, each of the six beneficiary universities will receive $1.5 million to establish specialised research chairs focused on industry-driven priorities, with the programme designed to develop commercially viable solutions, strengthen local research capacity and improve technological competitiveness.

The beneficiary institutions are the University of Ibadan, Rivers State University, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Kano, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja.

Speaking at the kick-off ceremony, NLNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Adeleye Falade, described the programme as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s capacity to transform academic knowledge into practical solutions for the energy industry.

In his keynote address titled, “Reshaping Nigeria’s Future Through Innovation, Research and Capacity Development,” Falade stressed the need for sustained collaboration among government, industry and academia.

“In the energy industry, we understand that technology and energy systems are evolving and the requirement for sustained research cannot be overemphasised,” he said.

Falade noted that the research programme would address critical industry challenges, including operational efficiency, emissions management, safety, infrastructure integrity and sustainable industrial processes.

He also advocated a “triple helix” approach involving government, industry and academia through specialised programmes, sabbaticals, exchange opportunities, practical testing of research assumptions and joint development of postgraduate curricula.

The NLNG chief disclosed that the Research and Innovation Centre for Computer and Electrical Engineering (RICCEE) at Rivers State University was envisaged as the coordinating hub for collaboration among the six universities, adding that discussions on implementation were already underway with the institution.

He further revealed that prospective partners, including Google, Cisco and MTN, had indicated interest in supporting the initiative.

Falade urged the beneficiary institutions to expand their research partnerships, attract additional grants and funding, and pursue the commercialisation of intellectual property.

“Expand the scope, reach for more grants and funding which can push the frontiers of knowledge and commercialisation of intellectual property,” he said.

He called for sustained commitment to technology transfer and home-grown solutions, stressing that the programme’s long-term value would be measured by stronger institutions, research outcomes deployed in the field and the development of future Nigerian researchers and industry professionals.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, described the $9 million endowment as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem.

Ogbe, represented by the Senior Technical Adviser, Engr. Austin Uzoka, said the programme complemented the Board’s investments in research infrastructure, including specialised Research and Development Centres of Excellence across six universities.

“Taken together, these interventions demonstrate the Nigerian oil and gas industry’s commitment to creating an integrated research ecosystem that connects academic expertise, modern research infrastructure, industry requirements, and commercialisation opportunities,” he said.

He urged the universities to move beyond research for publication to research for practical application, insisting that innovation must become a driver of industrial transformation.

According to him, the beneficiary institutions would be expected to deliver clearly defined research objectives, measurable outcomes, prudent resource utilisation, effective stakeholder engagement and sustained collaboration with industry partners.

“These professorial chairs will generate commercially viable solutions, strengthen local technological capabilities, support industrial competitiveness, and contribute meaningfully to the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry,” Ogbe said.

The research focus areas are tailored to the strengths and industry needs of the beneficiary institutions. The University of Ibadan will focus on natural gas processing, pollution control and environmental management, while Rivers State University will undertake research in digital engineering, intelligent energy systems, automation and asset integrity.

Modibbo Adama University will focus on energy transition and the environment, while Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology will research sustainable energy innovation and climate-resilient food systems.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, will specialise in green energy production and geoenvironmental engineering, while Yakubu Gowon University will focus on geoscience and satellite intelligence for resilient gas infrastructure.

The programme will also provide for minor civil works and infrastructure upgrades to transform designated spaces into functional research centres. The universities are expected to establish agreed research targets and commercialisation pathways, alongside a joint information management hub to facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange programmes.

The initiative will further create opportunities for industry professionals to contribute practical expertise while pursuing postgraduate qualifications, strengthening the link between academic training and real-world industrial problem-solving.

The programme reinforces NLNG’s commitment to developing Nigerian capacity under its recently approved NextGen Nigerian Content Strategy, which seeks to sustain previous gains, deepen Nigerian Content adoption as a business principle and accelerate industry transformation.

The initiative is anchored on the philosophy: “Start Local, Go Global, Think Nigerian Content.”